» The German Musicianer
I'm a young married man and I'm near broken-hearted
My wife she has left me and she's gone away
We had a misfortune, so she and I parted
Now I'll tell you what happened to her the other day
Now, women is weak, they should mind their possessions
I think now with grief, mad me it will send
For she's gone away with a German Musicianer
Who goes about crying: "Pianos to mend!"
Oh, fol-the-rol, fol-the-rol, fol-the-rol, laddie
There was all sorts of tunes and things he could play
There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle
And this the old German to my wife did say.
It happened one day this old German Musicianer
Came through our streets crying: "Pianos to mend"
And my wife's piano being out of condition
Straightway a boy for the old German did send.
Well, he knocked at the door and he said most politely
"Dear madam, I hear that you're needing repairs
Please, madam, I have come for to mend your piano."
"All right," said my wife, "Will you please walk upstairs."
So she took him upstairs and showed him her piana
And with this the old German seemed greatly amused,
And when he had seen it, he said to my Hannah,
"I think, ma'am, your music's not very much used."
Well, he touched it, he handled it, over and under
As sharp as a needle, as light as a cork;
With all sorts of tools, and he pulled it asunder
And rattled away with his old tuning fork.
Now, when I came home she told me the story
Of how the old German had been there all day
He'd worked very hard for to mend her piano
But do what she might, wouldn't take any pay.
Well, I thought it was strange when she told me the story
And said the old German was ever so kind
Would you ever believe that this old German sausage
Before going away left his trademark behind?
Well, I swore and I tore at my darling wife Hannah
With grief and with rage I'm sure no one can tell
I told her to hook it! and take her piano
And likewise to take the old German as well
So come all you young husbands, don't take too much spooning
For all women want is to handle your pelf
And if ever your wife's old piano wants tuning
Just take my advice, boys, and tune her yourself!